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“Em? Everything okay?”
“I love you.” My voice cracks. “I’m sorry for giving you such a hard time about the birthday parties. I know you mean well, and it’s coming from a good place.”
He’s quiet for a few seconds. “We didn’t get them.”
“I know.”
“We can change that. For us, for our future children.”
“You plan on making me an aunt?” I tease, to lighten the mood.
“Maybe one day.”
“Love you, Forty.”
“Love you too, kid.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow at the shop.”
“See you,” he says, ending the call.
“Feel better?” Monroe asks.
“Not yet.” I toss my phone on the couch and stand. I move to where she’s sitting on the love seat, and bend over, hugging her tight. “I love you, bestie. Thank you for being there for me with all of this Roman stuff, and helping be my voice of reason with Forrest. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“You’ll never have to find out. Now, tell me about Rome.”
“I really like him, Roe. He’s so sweet to me, and although we’ve messed around, he’s still saying we should wait to actually have sex.”
“Why?”
“He’s still worried that Forrest is going to disown me or something crazy like that. Sure, he’s probably going to be upset, but I know my brother. He’ll get over it with time.”
“I think you’re right. I do think he’ll be pissed, and even more so to find out this has been going on behind his back.”
“That’s on me. I convinced Rome to hold off to make sure he doesn’t get tired of me. We don’t know how this separation is going to work when I go back to school, and I think we just need time without outside influence.”
“I can see both sides. You have to do what you feel is best. Forrest loves you. He loves Rome. It will all work out like it’s supposed to. It might be bumpy, but you have to live for you.”
“That’s what I keep telling myself. I can’t thank you enough for covering for me. I wouldn’t be able to have this time with him without you.”
“I got you, bestie. Besides, when the two of you are happily married, you can name your firstborn after me. I’ve earned that right.” She winks.
“Have you been drinking?” I ask, blowing off the fact that the thought of marrying Roman has my heart fluttering in my chest.
“Nah, just an outsider looking in,” she says as there’s a knock at the door. She climbs from her seat and moves to answer it. “Hey, Rome. Come on in.”
“Hey, Monroe. Thank you,” he says, his tone serious. “This means a lot to both of us.”
“Who am I to stand in the way of true love?” she replies, and I bite my cheek to keep from scolding her.
Their footsteps grow closer. “Hey, baby girl. You ready to go?”
“Yes. We were just catching up.” I walk toward my best friend and hug her tightly. “I love you. Thank you for being the amazing human that you are.”
“I love you too.” Monroe smiles at both of us. “Now, you two kids have fun.”
With that, Roman laces his fingers through mine and leads me outside. We stop at my car to get my overnight bag, and then we’re on the road.
